CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — Illegal fireworks sparked two large grass fires that kept firefighters busy for several hours overnight.
“We're at the National Seashore, and like always, somebody lit aerial fireworks and set the dunes on fire,” one patron said in this Facebook video.
That was the scene just after 10 p.m. last night at the Padre Island National Seashore.
This fire scorched about an acre of brush, but fortunately no buildings were damaged.
Crews from the city and Nueces County Emergency Service District Number 2 had it extinguished in about an hour.
Then, just after 6 a.m. today, crews were called out for another fire near Sea Pines, in the area near Bob Hall Pier.
Again, fireworks are blamed for starting the ire.
This one scorched a narrow stretch of brush about three quarters of a mile long.
No injuries reported in connection with either fire.
“This is usually our busy season and you know, just a little firework, it could do a whole lot of damage,” said Capt. Brandon Sekula of Nueces Co. ESD No. 2.
Windy conditions actually helped fire crews battle both fires.
The winds blew the flames away from structures and toward the gulf.
